Bite Me If You Can by Lynsay Sands

Title: Bite Me If You Can
Author: Lynsay Sands

Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-077412-7
Pages: 356
Series: Argeneau/Rogue Hunter #6
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Leigh Gerard is walking home from work in the early hours when she is suddenly attacked by a vampire. Turns out it was a rogue vampire marked for termination but that doesn't help Leigh because she's already becoming a vampire. Lucian Argeneau is over two thousand years old and the only pleasure remaining in his life is hunting down rogues, but when he ends up forced to care for Leigh through her transition and welcome her into her new life he finds himself torn between the hunt and his heart.

This is the sixth book in the awesome Argeneau/Rogue Hunter series (after A Quick Bite, Love Bites, Single White Vampire, Tall, Dark and Hungry and A Bite to Remember) and features the grumpy Uncle Lucian. He's always been very brusque and bad-tempered in the previous books, but occasionally he has shown glimmers of being a nice guy underneath it all so it was interesting to find out more about him.

The plot is as densely plotted as usual with a good mix of tension and humour that kept me glued to the page. Whenever I pick up a Lynsay Sands book I know I'm in for a fun action-packed read and this is no exception. This follows in the slightly darker tone of the previous book and shows the reader for the first time what it's like to hunt rogue vampires. Lucian and Leigh's romance is also distinct from the previous ones, building on each of their lives.

Rogue vampires have been mentioned a few times, particularly in the most recent installments but there hasn't been a huge focus on why vampires go rogue or what happens after they do. This book changes that. It manages to show the reasons why some vampires go rogue while others don't and it gives insight into how and why they are hunted. Having someone like Lucian who has been hunting rogues for a long time to guide the reader through means info-dumping doesn't occur at all.

Lucian is the oldest character featured so far and at over two thousand years he definitely shows his age at times. He also hasn't eaten in decades so it is hilarious to see him trying various types of food. It's great to see why he's been such a jerk in the past (a certain scene with Greg in A Quick Bite comes to mind) and get to understand him better. Leigh is a brilliant match for Lucian. She's mature enough to be confident her relationship with Lucian, but young enough to make him realise that life can be really fun. Leigh very much has her own life that she's worked hard to build so becoming a vampire is a massive adjustment for her as it means losing a lot.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to The Accidental Vampire.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

A Bite to Remember by Lynsay Sands

Title: A Bite to Remember
Author: Lynsay Sands

Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-077407-3
Pages: 362
Series: Argeneau/Rogue Hunter #5
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Vincent Argeneau is in trouble. His production company has been struggling with plays closing down due to freak accidents, random bad luck and at the latest - contagious anaemia. Before people start pointing the finger at his fanged self he asks his family for help and gets PI Jackie Morrisey on his doorstep. Jackie is determined to track down the culprit but she is uncomfortable near Vincent having sworn off vampires years ago. This culprit will need her full attention though as the attacks are about to become much more personal...and deadly.

This is the fifth book in the outstanding Argeneau/Rogue Hunter series (after A Quick Bite, Love Bites, Single White Vampire and Tall, Dark and Hungry) and is a little darker than those before it. The added darkness is a welcome change as it keeps the series fresh, and it also works better with the characters than a lighter tone would have. That said there are still some laugh out loud moments here.

The storyline is cleverly written with a gradual build of tension throughout as the events escalate. There are twists and turns galore as the storyline progresses and I found it hard to predict what would happen next, let alone try and figure out who was behind the attacks. It was also interesting to see more about what happens behind the scenes when people put plays on and it adds another dimension to the storyline.

Vincent was featured in the previous book and I found him fascinating then so it was great to see this book continuing his story on by picking up the plot threads from his introduction. He has worked incredibly hard to build his company so to have someone sabotage is deeply upsetting to him. Add that to the fact he feels isolated from other vampires as he is incapable of drinking from blood bags and you have a character who I rooted for from page one.

Jackie is very determined and headstrong but still carries scars from an abusive relationship with a vampire when she was still a teenager. This makes her biased against Vincent so it is hilarious to watch them fight their feelings for one another. Naturally Marguerite finds a reason to visit L.A. and "help" Vincent out with his romance. On the whole the romance is sweet and well written, but a little less head over heels than in previous installments which is a refreshing change.

Jackie's partner Tiny is a total scene stealer. He helps with the case and cooks up a storm, leading to some delicious descriptions of the various types of food he creates to tempt Vincent with. He is sweet and supportive and almost like a big brother to Jackie so their dynamic is fun to read.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm really looking forward to Bite Me If You Can.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 100
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates

Title: Brownies and Broomsticks
Author: Bailey Cates

Publisher: Obsidian
ISBN: 978-0-451-23663-0
Pages: 319
Series: Magical Bakery Mysteries #1
Type: Adult Cozy Mystery
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Katie Lightfoot has just left a less than satisfying life in Ohio and moved down to Savannah to open the Honeybee Bakery with her aunt Lucy and uncle Ben. As she and Lucy begin working on recipes for the bakery, Katie notices her aunt's habit of adding herbs to the mixtures and muttering and soon discovers these additions aren't just tasty...they're magical! But when a rude customer is found murdered out front and Ben becomes the prime suspect, Katie will draw on her magical heritage and, with the help of a handsome journalist and charming firefighter, try to solve the case herself!

This is the first book in the new Magical Bakery Mysteries and one that I shamelessly picked up based on the gorgeous cover. I ended up really enjoying the story and it has been a long time since I've read a cozy mystery with this many twists and turns. I couldn't figure out the murderer's identity but when it was revealed it all made perfect sense which is the best kind of cozy, at least in my opinion.

The book is set in Savannah and there are a few descriptions of the town through the eyes of it's newest resident Katie. The pacing is great, balancing revelations and world building with dramatic twists. The writing is gorgeous and this is packed with mouthwatering descriptions of food and various bakery treats. This is a world I'd be happy to live in! I loved how realistic the witchcraft was, as well as the delicate way it was introduced to the storyline. There's also a variety of practices described so it'll be interesting to see how these play out later in the series.

I really liked Katie. At first I thought she seemed a little stereotypical - starting a new business, just out of a messy long-term relationship, but she soon blossoms on the page. The only thing that bothered me about her was how little she slept, although I have the feeling this may be important in future installments.

Katie works hard to build her business and to clear her Uncle's name, while somehow balancing two potential love interests in Steve and Declan. Steve really irritated me by constantly calling her "Katie-girl" and honestly they seem to have very little in common. It's almost as though he has been put there as the 'doesn't care you're a witch' option, although Declan is incredible. The romance doesn't detract from the storyline though - it just enhances it.

At the end recipes for Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies and Cheddar-Sage Scones (both featured in the book) are included. These sound really yummy and I can't wait to try them out!

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 8/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 47/50

Lover Unleashed by J. R. Ward

Title: Lover Unleashed
Author: J.R. Ward

Publisher: Piatkus
ISBN: 978-0-7499-5565-6
Pages: 573
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #9
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, deadly cloth as her brother. After spending eons imprisoned by their mother, Payne escapes only to find her spine broken. To save her life and try to reverse the paralysis Vishous is forced to abduct human surgeon Manny Manello, the head of his field in neurosurgery. But when Payne and Manny meet sparks fly and it soon becomes clear that a romance is growing despite their different species.

This is the ninth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and one I approached with trepidation. I'd heard this was different to the previous books and having read it I agree with that assessment. In previous installments the focus has been primarily on the featured couple with other storylines kept firmly in the background, while this barely focuses on Payne and Manny and has a lot of distracting plotlines.

What there is of Payne and Manny's romance was incredibly sweet and well written. Payne's spinal injury at the start of the book is delicately handled and yet accurate in terms of her emotions (I showed certain scenes to my Mum who also has a spinal injury). Manny's medical training does show through and it was interesting to see how the previous memory wipes have affected him. The Brotherhood have really changed his life, and not in a good way.

The predominant storyline of the book though focuses on Vishous and his relationship with Jane. I expected V to play a key role here as Payne's twin but his storyline takes over the book and huge chunks are dedicated to his life. It is almost as if this book is Lover Unbound part two rather than focusing on a new couple. There are also tiny cameos from pretty much every other character from the books, although most are only mentioned and never given any purpose or dialogue.

There are also three other storylines, the first being a heartbreaking view of the Qhuinn/Blaylock story from Qhuinn's perspective revealing his true feelings for the first time (their book Lover at Last is out next year) which was kept mostly in the background. Then you have the introduction of Xcor and the Band of B*****ds, a rival group to the Black Dagger Brotherhood formerly led by the Bloodletter who, while relevant to the storyline, take over with some unnecessary scenes. The third storyline is a human murder case which I expected to tie everything together so was disappointed to find not only does it fail at this, it's actually tied into the author's other series.

All in all this was an okay read and I'll still pick up a copy of Lover Reborn.

Plot: 7/10
Characters: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 40/50

Montana Sky by Nora Roberts

Title: Montana Sky
Author: Nora Roberts

Publisher: Piatkus
ISBN: 0-7499-3765-3
Pages: 467
Series: N/A
Type: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Borrowed from library
Goodreads


When Jack Mercy died, he left a twenty million dollar ranch to his daughters on a single condition - they must all live on the ranch for one year. For Willa who was raised on the ranch this is an invasion of her home, while Lily sees it as a safe haven from her abusive ex-husband and L.A. girl Tess just wants to collect her cash and get back to the city. The sisters have never met before, let alone lived together but they must put their differences aside when it becomes clear that a brutal enemy is out to destroy Mercy Ranch and the women who live there.

This was my first ever Nora Roberts book and I picked it up after watching the TV movie. I'd enjoyed the film so much I wanted to know what the actual book was like. The book is a richer, more detailed storyline than the movie, althouth the movie did keep the main plotlines. Although I generally prefer to read the book before watching the movie, in this case I'm glad I saw the movie first as otherwise I would have missed certain scenes from the book (like when the sisters go to a spa) that were not included.

The book focuses on the three Mercy sisters - independent cowgirl Willa, fiesty screenwriter Tess and shy reserved Lily. Each is given their own backstory and plotlines with their own romantic interest. I loved how each woman was distinct and came to life on the page, and it was great to see how different each romance was. Willa has a love/hate attitude to neighbouring rancher Ben McKinnon, Tess wants a no-strings affair with lawyer Nate and Lily falls for Adam and ends up healing the scars of her past. Even the supporting characters are well written and developed, showing a great depth of character which makes them interesting to read.

The ranch setting was really interesting and differs from the film in that it goes a lot deeper into the workings of a ranch. While the movie made a ranch seem like an attractive place to live, this shows off the hard work involved with birthing calves and moving livestock. This feels like a more realistic take and the book also shows Ben and Nate's ranches and the differences in how they are managed.

The plot is well paced and there is tension threaded throughout by the threat of the killer and Lily's ex-husband. Those scenes are tense, creepy and at times very disturbing to read. Nora Roberts has done an outstanding job of getting inside the mind of an abusive partner and the ways he justifies his actions to himself are unsettling to say the least. The storyline is divided into seasons which shows the required year on the ranch well whilst giving some gorgeous descriptions of Montana.

All in all this was a great read and I'll definitely be reading more by Nora Roberts.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 47/50

Archangel's Storm by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Storm
Author: Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-24658-0
Pages: 337
Series: Guild Hunter #5
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


When the archangel Neha's consort is murdered in the jewel-studded palace that was his prison her rage threatens to destroy the world. Raphael lends her his spymaster Jason, but to earn Neha's trust he is forced to swear a blood oath with her niece Mahiya. Mahiya hides secrets so dangerous she doesn't trust anyone and is loathe to find herself tied to an enemy spymaster. But Eris's murderer isn't done yet and Mahiya and Jason must work together to prevent Neha's court becoming a bloodbath.

This is the fifth book in the Guild Hunter series (after Angels' Blood, Archangel's Kiss, Archangel's Consort and Archangel's Blade) and the narration switches to Jason, Raphael's midnight-winged spymaster, while the setting moves to Neha's court in India which gives a host of new characters to get to know.

The storyline is densely plotted with several big twists and turns that I didn't see coming. The writing is as descriptively lush as always, made more prominent by the gorgeous jewel studded palace. I was worried I'd struggle with the change of location but descriptions were delicately interwoven with the storyline to create a three dimensional world. The mystery of the killer soon leads Mahiya and Jason into the twisted political machinations of an Archangel's court and I was glued to the page throughout.

Jason has always been featured as dark and secretive, barely showing any expressions and playing his cards close to his chest so to see him thrust together with Mahiya who has secrets of her own was an interesting mix. Each has their backstories interwoven with the main mystery and I soon came to like Mahiya for managing to survive a brutual childhood and not become tainted by it. Their romance develops while honouring each character's background and it is interesting to see how they relate to each other.

There is a background story showing Honor and Dmitri's marriage and progressing relationship. As Jason's story is quite dark overall, these sections work as moments of lightness showing their love and dedication to one another clearly. Venom also plays a role when he comes to pay his respects to his creator Neha. I really like him as a character and I'm hoping he gets to narrate a story in the future.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to the next book.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Blade
Author: Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-24391-6
Pages: 310
Series: Guild Hunter #4
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


When the tattooed severed head of a nascent vampire is discovered, the case should have been passed directly to the Guild but Dmitri has an ominious sense of familiarity. In his long life as a vampire, Dmitri has seen many things and his search for the truth of the killing leads him to work alongside Guild Hunter Honor. But while Honor is a competent Hunter, she has just survived a brutual imprisonment by vampires and the last thing she wants is to be forced to work with one...especially one as powerful as Dmitri.

This is the fourth book in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series (after Angels' Blood, Archangel's Kiss and Archangel's Consort) and is the first to move away from Elena and Raphael as lead characters. Instead the book focuses on Dmitri who has been a supporting character from the start and introduces a new Guild Hunter named Honor. Elena, Raphael and all the other characters I've come to love are still featured despite the narration change.

The book is tightly plotted with dual storylines running together. The investigation into the severed head leads us into Dmitri's past while a concurrent investigation tracks down the vampires who abducted Honor. There is a fair amount of tension and some scenes manage to be deeply creepy which makes for compelling reading. The romance takes a backseat to the character's healing from their pasts, which works well both for the storyline and overall development of the characters.

Dmitri has been a favourite character of mine since the beginning of the series. He's always been portrayed as arrogant and controlling so it was fascinating to see why he is that way. He has lived a long existence but never recovered from the events surrounding his turning, leading him to become darker and more deadly. However, when he meets Honor he begins to change and it is fascinating to see how he develops.

I found Honor to be incredibly well written and the way in which she gradually deals with the horrors of her past feels believable. She is very different to Elena as while Elena is physically very strong and confident from the first page, Honor is broken and delicate yet holds herself together with an extreme level of self-control.

Holly (a survivor of Uram's rampage in the first book) and Venom both stand out as supporting characters with Holly's recovery being aided by Honor and Venom showing a slightly softer side. Interestingly the book steps back from the global changes in the previous installment to tell a tighter, more character focused story and this was a refreshing change.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Archangel's Storm.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 48/50

Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Consort
Author: Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-24013-7
Pages: 324
Series: Guild Hunter #3
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


When a vampire attacks a girls' school in a fit of viscious madness, it is only the first in a string of violent events. Vampire after vampire is consumed by rampant bloodlust and Raphael is struggling to control them when he himself begins to show signs of uncontrollable rage. But when a massive storm threatens the New York the pattern behind the events becomes clear. An ancient is awakening and she seeks to reclaim her son. Caliane has returned...

This is the third book in the Guild Hunter series (after Angels' Blood and Archangel's Kiss) and is probably my favourite in the series so far. The storyline is densely plotted and packed with twists and turns, and the threat of an Ancient awakening is threaded through the book adding a vein of tension that enhances the plot. The suspense woven into the storylines is one of the things that I love most about this series, and this installment takes it to the next level.

After watching Elena's growth after the past few books, I was looking forward to seeing what was next for her and this takes things back to her family. It allows us to understand more about how her family functions and what role she was in. There is also a few surprises hidden in Elena's past and the flashbacks give her character even more depth. Her romance with Raphael is still going strong although at times I felt it drew attention away from the action.

The presence of Raphael's mother Caliane also means that flashbacks are again used to help develop their relationship by giving a window into their past. The flashbacks are always in italics and fit well within the story. Raphael is also dealing with the echoes of Lijuan's ascension and the changes that has made to the balance of power between the Cadre of ruling Archangels.

Once again the supporting characters shine through, particularly Dmitri who has been running things in New York while Elena recovered from her transformation. His book is up next and I'm eager to find out more about him. Bluebell also returns and there are some truly heartwrenching scenes with him that really made me feel for him.

All in all this was a great read and I'm really looking forward to Archangel's Blade.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 49/50

Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Kiss
Author: Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-23336-8
Pages: 323
Series: Guild Hunter #2
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Elena Devereaux has spent the last year in a coma, her body healing after the fight that nearly took her life and transformed her into an angel. She awakens changed, but weakened and with much to learn. Elena is forced to learn quickly though as an invitation arrives to a ball at the ancient and deadly archangel Lijuan's home. But even as Elena and Raphael prepare, someone is determined to remove Raphael from power and strikes at the heart of the angelic sanctuary they are calling home.

This is the second book in the Guild Hunter series (after Angels' Blood) and picks up a year after Elena's transformation. I would recommend that new readers start at the beginning, and also don't read further as this review is likely to contain spoilers for the first book.

This book has a slightly slower pace than the last installment as a large amount of time is spent with Elena learning how to be an angel. She needs to learn the history of the angelic race and even simple things, like being able to walk with her wings folded, are a struggle. That said there is a layer of tension as someone is targeting Raphael and attacking people at the sanctuary, and there is the lingering threat of Lijuan's ball.

Elena develops a lot in this book as she is trying to find a balance between her new existence as an angel and her old life as a hunter. Her hunter born skills haven't deserted her and if anything are beginning to develop into something more complex, meaning Elena is able to gain some independence from her relationship with Raphael. Slightly more of Elena's past with the rogue vampire Slater Patalis is revealed, alongside the revelation that Elena herself doesn't fully remember the incident. The story is not complete though so I'm assuming it will continue on in the next book.

It isn't just Elena's past that is revealed though as Raphael begins to reveal more about his past and the nature of angels. Raphael is determined to protect Elena, and this means that Dmitri and Illium play key roles along with the newly introduced Jason and Galen. This book also reveals more about Raphael's Seven and their roles.

Elena's relationship with Raphael develops more, although this is much to the disappointment of jealous Michaela and Dmitri who thinks Elena is a threat to Raphael's safety. The romance itself is well developed as Elena and Raphael gradually let down their guards and begin to reveal their pasts whilst learning to deal with the fact that Elena craves independence as Raphael needs her presence.

All in all this was another great read and I'm looking forward to Archangel's Consort.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 47/50

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh

Title: Angels' Blood
Author: Nalini Singh
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-22692-6
Pages: 339
Series: Guild Hunter #1
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Elena Devereaux is the best vampire hunter in the world, but even she may not be good enough for her latest assignment. She has been hired by the dangerous, and beautiful, archangel of New York Raphael to track down an archangel gone bad. This job will place Elena at the centre of a killing spree unlike any other...and put her at risk of falling for her employer's charms, either of which could mean her death.

This is the first book in the Guild Hunter series and, as a big fan of the author's Psy-Changeling series, a book I expected great things from. I definitely wasn't disappointed as the world building is just as unique and complex as that of her other books, taking vampires and angels in innovative new directions. Angels are the creators of vampires and as such own them for the first hundred years of their existence. Elena's job is to retrieve those who attempt to break that contract.

The storyline is cleverly plotted and well paced, although at times the density of the world building made it difficult for me to stay caught in the storyline. Unlike the Psy-Changeling books, this series stays with Elena and Raphael for more than a single book so their backstory isn't covered fully leaving lots undiscovered. I was a little annoyed that only snippets of Elena's history are revealed which means that the storyline will continue in the future books, but ends up being frustratingly incomplete in this installment.

Elena is an interesting lead character. As I mentioned before her traumatic past isn't fully revealed which leaves the reader only able to partly understand her, although her relationships with her friends (good) and family (bad) do explain a lot about her motivations. Likewise Raphael is fascinating and it is great to see him both acting normally and within "the cold", a side effect to a method of angelic communication. The cold removes all traces of humanity from Raphael and leaves him as a very scary being.

There were a few background characters that managed to steal scenes throughout the book: Raphael's right hand vampire Dmitri whose seductive scent keeps Elena on her toes, and Elena's bad boy hunter friend Ransom who adds a cute sideline as he realises he's fallen in love with his latest fling. The other character I loved was Illium who is the most accessible angel introduced in the book.

The villain of the piece Uram is incredibly disturbing and leads to some particularly horrifying scenes that place this book a lot closer to a gritty urban fantasy than a romance. Some of the scenes are quite graphic which I wasn't expecting, although they do fit within the storyline and aren't excessive.

The ending is outstanding and entirely not what I was expecting at all. I can't wait to see where the storyline goes next!

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Archangel's Kiss.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 44/50

Biting Cold by Chloe Neill

Title: Biting Cold
Author: Chloe Neill

Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-11342-8
Pages: 337
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #6
Type: Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Turned into a vampire against her will, Merit has found her way into the inner circle of Chicago's supernaturals and the secrets she has learnt are not meant for sharing. Now Merit is on the hunt racing across the midwest to stop a rogue supernatural from getting their hands on an artifact that could release a catastrophic evil on the world. But Merit herself is being hunted by an old foe who will stop at nothing to claim the artifact for himself. Will Merit survive the chase?

This is the sixth book in the Chicagoland Vampires series (after Some Girls Bite, Friday Night Bites, Twice Bitten, Hard Bitten and Drink Deep) and at this point I'd really recommend new readers go back and begin at the start. There are likely to be spoilers in this review for all previous books.

I was disappointed in the previous installment as I felt it was very predictable in some respects. This storyline, however, is anything but with lots of twists and turns packed in. There are also some massive revelations, including finding out what Tate really is. The book jumps straight into the action and manages to keep a fast pace throughout as it works to bring together different storylines. I loved the introduction of gnomes and the return of some of the humour and snark from previous installments.

Merit is dealing with a lot. She's been betrayed and broken and has found, lost and found love again so it isn't surprising she has matured a lot since the beginning of the series. There's a lot of healing needed in her life, but Merit doesn't have time for introspection. I was expecting more impact from Ethan's return but he takes a long time to deal with how his existence has altered. This means that his romance with Merit is firmly on the backburner, although the introspection does lead to some added depth for his character.

The ending is interesting as it concludes the story while leading on to a new era for Cadogan House. I'm really interested to see where Chloe Neill takes things from here and I can't wait for the next book.

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to House Rules.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 46/50

Drink Deep by Chloe Neill

Title: Drink Deep
Author: Chloe Neill

Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-11340-4
Pages: 321
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #5
Type: Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


A storm is brewing over Chicago and with the city in turmoil and threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, Cadogan House is in a precarious position. All Merit wants to do is lay low for a while and lick her wounds but it seems fate has other plans for her when the waters of Lake Michigan suddenly turn pitch black. It's clear the darkest magic is at work and Merit must act as Sentinel and turn to friends, and enemies, new and old to find out who is behind this and stop them before it is too late...

This is the fifth book in the Chicagoland Vampires series (after Some Girls Bite, Friday Night Bites, Twice Bitten and Hard Bitten) and I jumped straight into this after the OMG ending to Hard Bitten. I am so glad I had this on hand and I'd recommend anyone new to the series start at the beginning, but make sure you have this on hand when you start Hard Bitten because the ending is a killer.

There is a ton of world building in this installment as the weird events in Chicago force Merit to contact all sorts of supernatural races, both those we've met before and those we haven't. Every race gets more development from the nymphs to the fey and river trolls to sirens. It all works well and develops naturally within the storyline without any info dumping.

The book also features a heavy political aspect as the Greenwich Presidium have sent a representative to Cadogan House and he quickly pulls a Dolores Umbridge and starts taking over and insisting on bizarre unnecessary rules. The Cadogan vampires are somewhat struggling under the new management and this leads to a fair amount of friction. The Red Guard are also still courting Merit in hopes that she will join their numbers against the GP.

The book did feature a huge dent to my enjoyment in that I figured out what the cause of the bizarre events was within the first few chapters. This meant I spent most of the book knowing Merit was looking in all the wrong places and by the time she figured it out I was becoming frustrated with how she could keep missing all the clues. Other than that the storyline is well written on the whole and I enjoyed exploring more of Merit's world with her.

Merit is dealing with a lot in this installment after her loss at the end of the previous book. Mallory has tried to help her through but she is caught up with her magic training. Merit's way of dealing is to throw herself into her role as Sentinel and to support her friends Lindsey and Luc who have finally gotten together. Given Merit's state of mind a lot of the humour and snark of the earlier books is missing and I'm really hoping they return in the next installment.

All in all this was a fun read and I'm looking forward to Biting Cold.

Plot: 8/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 42/50

Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill

Title: Hard Bitten
Author: Chloe Neill

Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-10018-3
Pages: 350
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #4
Type: Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Chicago's vampires are having a hard time. Previously seen as celebrities after their revelation the tide is now turning. Merit and Ethan are called to a clandestine meeting with Mayor Tate after a violent vampire rave left three women missing and potentially dead. With Tate threatening to jail Ethan for the crime, Merit investigates only to discover that things aren't quite what they seem and that a deadly new drug is being used by the vampire community.

This is the fourth book in the Chicagoland Vampires series (after Some Girls Bite, Friday Night Bites and Twice Bitten) which is one of my favourite urban fantasy series. At this point a new reader could jump in, but they'd be missing a lot of backstory. The storyline is great with tight pacing that builds the tension right up to the shocking heartbreaking end. There are a lot of twists and turns and the mystery is packed with red herrings.

Merit teams up with Red Guard member and Grey house Guard Captain Jonah to investigate how and why the vampire raves (essentially parties where vampires openly drink from willing humans) are becoming deadly. Their investigation soon leads to a drug called V and gives insight into a drug underworld. The storyline also has a political aspect as Mayor Tate flexes his power as well as the presence of a GP member reviewing Cadogan House.

Merit is growing more confident in her new life, although she is still struggling with the possibility of joining the Red Guard. The romance aspect of the story between Ethan and Merit has hit a crisis as Ethan has managed to shatter Merit's trust in him. Although he spends the majority of the book trying to make it up to her, the wounds he caused her mean she is holding back.

The usual supporting characters all return, with Mallory busy with her Sorcery apprenticeship while Merit's grandfather, Jeff and Catcher all assisting Merit from the law enforcement side.

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Drink Deep.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 48/50

Murder Takes Time by Giacomo Giammatteo

Title: Murder Takes Time
Author: Giacomo Giammatteo

Publisher: Inferno Publishing Company
ISBN: 978-0-9850302-0-9
Pages: 421
Series: Friendship and Honor #1
Type: Adult Crime
Source: Received for Review
Goodreads


Twenty five years ago Tony 'the brain' Sannullo, Frankie 'Bugs' Donovan, Paulie 'the Suit' Perlano and Nicky 'the Rat' Fusco made an oath for Friendship and Honor. Now grown up the four boys have taken different paths and are living very different lives. Frankie is now a hardened Brooklyn cop facing a series of brutal murders that all have a bizarre combination of DNA planted at the scene. Struggling with the case he has no choice but to contact his old friends, even if the old oath could compromise the oath he swore as a cop.

I wasn't sure what I would think of this as it is outside my normal comfort zone so I was pleasantly surprised to find that this is really readable and kept me glued to the page. You can really tell that the author is writing about the time and area in which he grew up and his passion really shines through the narrative. There are even photos of some of the locations in the back of the book. I'd been warned in advance about the rough language but it fits with the characters and their background and never comes across as excessive.

I found myself connecting with some characters more than others. Frankie is really struggling both with the case and with the conflict between his past and career. I sympathized with Nicky who has definitely had the most difficult life, and quickly became resentful of the circumstances that led him down an entirely different path to the one he wanted. I loved Mama Rosa and she really brought the boys childhoods to life. You could almost taste the sauce she was constantly nursing in the kitchen.

The plot is cleverly written and the motivations and identity of the killer are gradually revealed alongside the past of the boys and how they ended up becoming the men they are today. I was disappointed by the ending though as it feels like justice was abandoned in favour of leaving the storyline open for the sequel promised at the end of the book.

There were several things I didn't like: the violence is very graphic at times and could have been lessened without negatively impacting the storyline. Also while I knew there would be sexual content in advance I was unaware that a fair amount of those scenes are nonconsensual and pretty disturbing. I also struggled at times with the large cast, especially in the past scenes where lists of names are reeled off, and found it difficult to tell when certain scenes were taking place as while they are marked as '19 years ago' some cover years at a time.

All in all, this was a good read and I'd consider picking up Murder has Consequences when it is released.

Plot: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Ending: 7/10
Enjoyment: 7/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 37/50

 

The author is even giving you the opportunity to try the ebook edition risk free during the book's tour (November 4 - 10). The details are below:

 

For anyone who buys a digital book during this tour and mentions the tour, I will offer a money-back guarantee, with these conditions:

1. Understand that this book contains several chapters with graphic violence.

2. Understand that it contains rough, street language

3. Understand that there are two chapters with sexual scenes

4. Understand that the story is told in multiple Point of Views.

If for any reason, other than those stated above, you do not like the book or aren't happy with it, just write me an email and tell me why. Email me a proof of purchase receipt, and I'll refund your money. This applies only to the digital books. I can't do it with print editions.

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie

Title: Hallowe'en Party
Author: Agatha Christie
Publisher: Harper
ISBN: 978-0-00-712068-0
Pages: 336
Series: Poirot #36
Type: Adult Mystery
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Mystery writer Ariadne Oliver is at a children's Halloween party where rather unpopular girl named Joyce boasts that she once witnessed a murder. When no one believes her she storms out of the party in a temper, but then her body is discovered a few hours later drowned in an apple bobbing tub. Ariadne calls in her dear friend Hercule Poirot who leaps at the chance to investigate the crime that could be a murder, or a double murder.

As a fan of both Halloween and mysteries I grabbed a copy of this last month in hopes of a seasonal read and was not disappointed. Admittedly I didn't read it until after I had watched the recent ITV adaption, which stuck pretty true to the book, but I still found the book really enjoyable. The plot was well thought-out and full of twists and turns. Some of the descriptions of what the teenage boys wear are particularly amusing 'a rose-coloured velvet coat, mauve trousers and a kind of frilled shirting.'

I haven't read many of Christie's books so I was a little thrown by references to past cases (The Labours of Hercules and Mrs McGinty's Dead in particular) but these weren't too prominent nor did they give spoilers. There are two returning characters: Superintendent Spence and Ariadne Oliver. Ariadne is my favourite character from the book. She teases Poirot continually and makes some great sarcastic comments, like "Put that in your moustache and smoke it".

The one thing I didn't really enjoy about the book was the intermittent references to the relaxed nature of the criminal justice system (it was written shortly after the abolishment of capital punishment) and criminals being sent to psychological institutions rather than prisons. It doesn't detract from the book, but it is a recurring theme that most of the characters express an opinion on at some point.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 48/50

Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill

Title: Twice Bitten

Author: Chloe Neill
Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-09937-1
Pages: 355
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #3
Type: Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Merit has now completed the transition to vampire twice as the first change wasn't complete. Merit is embracing her vampiric nature and now Ethan has a surprising task for her. Shapeshifters from all over America will be congregating in Chicago to decide whether to follow vampires into the public eye. Ethan has loaned Merit to act as security for the Alpha Gabriel Keene who leads all the shifters. But when someone starts gunning for Gabriel, Merit finds herself in the line of fire.

I was really looking forward to reading this as the previous book (Friday Night Bites) ends with Merit going to a meeting with the mysterious sender of several invitations. It turns out that Merit is being invited to join the Red Guard who function like internal affairs for the vampire houses. This is a new development for this book, and I think it's great how the author is still adding depth to Merit's world. However, it may make the books harder to read for newcomers to the series so I'd recommend starting at the beginning with Some Girls Bite.

Merit has now dealt with her transition and is moving on with her (un)life. The previous books showed Merit's struggle adjusting, whereas this one shows how Merit is learning to embrace her new life. Merit also broke up with Morgan in the last book so now it's just a will they/won't they with Ethan not a love triangle. The only complication left in Merit's life is the tension between her and her friend Mallory, and this means more focus is given to the shifter storyline.

Ethan's character also gets some more development, and revelations about his past and his own change to a vampire explain a lot of his character quirks from the previous books. A lot of why Ethan makes certain choices is explained, and it definitely made him a more likeable character in my eyes.

I loved how well the shifter storyline flowed, and there were several twists that I didn't see coming. The addition of shifters to Merit's world is brilliant. Jeff was introduced in the first book and the Breckenridges were introduced in the second, but this book adds literally a country of shifters with several well developed characters. There are also seeds sown for possible future storylines with Merit and the shifters, and I can't wait to see where these go.

All in all this was an awesome read and I'm looking forward to reading Hard Bitten.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 48/50

Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill

Title: Friday Night Bites

Author: Chloe Neill
Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-09405-5
Pages: 357
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #2
Type: Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Merit is beginning to adjust to life as a vampire and is moving into Cadogan House with it's ever present paparazzi. Merit has barely unpacked when her Master Ethan reveals that an old family friend of hers is sniffing around vampire society and threatening to publish a story about the Raves - mass feeding parties where vampires drink themselves silly. Ethan is convinced that Merit's family is their best starting point so Merit is forced back into the society she once ran from, and finds that balancing human/vampire relations is almost as hard as balancing her love life.

I really enjoyed Some Girls Bite so I was looking forward to reading this and I wasn't disappointed. This book is less about Merit's personal journey and takes place more in the world at large. What begins as a simple nosey reporter soon develops into a threat against Cadogan House and Merit really steps up into her role as Sentinel. More is revealed about vampire society, and we also get to learn more about shifters and sorcerors. Again the author avoids info-dumping, and Merit's world is widened and deepened in this book.

As Merit has moved into Cadogan House in this book, there is more of a focus on her vampire friends and so Mallory features far less. Mallory spends a chunk of the book away perfecting her sorcery skills, and I did miss the Merit/Mallory interaction. However Merit and Mallory did have some page time together and I think the way their changing friendship was handled was brilliant.

The lingering threat against Cadogan House is well developed and cleverly handled. There are a few twists that I didn't see coming, and the author managed to create more questions as Merit solved the mystery. Merit also discovered she has several unique qualities not seen in other vampires, and I can't wait to see where the author takes this.

All in all this was a great read, and I'm looking forward to reading Twice Bitten.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 47/50

 

Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

Title: Some Girls Bite
Author: Chloe Neill
Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-09404-8
Pages: 341
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #1
Type: Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Merit has always looked at Chicago's newly revealed vampires with distaste, that is until she is attacked and left for dead in the middle of her gradute school quad. Her life is saved when Ethan Sullivan, head of one of Chicago's vampire Houses, saves her life and turns her into a vampire. Now Merit has lost her chance at a normal life, and must come to terms with being one of the very creatures she hates. But Merit is no ordinary girl, and she isn't going to be an ordinary vampire.

This is one of those series that has a ton of positive reviews, but you never really pick up. The cover doesn't really stand out, and the blurb on the back although interesting is longer than most. I picked up a copy of the second book in the series (Friday Night Bites) thinking it was the first, and then had to find this one so I could begin at the beginning. I must say I'm impressed. I'm a big fan of urban fantasy, but haven't read any in a while. This book epitomises what I love about the genre - it's got action, humour, mystery and a touch of romance.

The plot is well thought out and developed. Vampires have recently 'come out' in Chicago, and Chloe Neill does an incredible job of setting up the vampires and the four Vampire houses, as well as rogue (independant) vampires. Then the author swiftly moves on to flesh out her world by introducing shifters, sorcerors, fairies, nymphs and a few other supernatural races, and then ties each species to it's own internal politics and to human-supernatural politics. I was amazed at how deftly this was done, and there was no info-dumping to be seen.

Merit's journey is believable and I really liked her as a main character. She's snarky and sarcastic, and manages to keep hold of who she is as a person even when thrown neck deep in vampire politics. Merit also deals with her unwanted transformation realistically and without excessive whining, which is rare in this kind of book.

The other characters are also incredible. I liked how Ethan was stuck up and set in his ways because it makes Merit the perfect foil for him. It does appear that a potential love triangle is being set up between Merit, Ethan and another vampire called Morgan, but the romance takes a back seat to the storyline in this book which I'm grateful for. As much as I like a good romance, I don't want it taking over the story in an urban fantasy book. I love Merit's roomate Mallory, who is actually an undiscovered sorceror, and the story between her and Catcher, another sorceror who is training both Merit and Mallory, has real sparks alongside a sweet romance.

All in all this is an awesome read and I'm really looking forward to Friday Night Bites

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 46/50

Missing Rebecca by John Worsley Simpson

Title: Missing Rebecca
Author: John Worsley Simpson

Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-1475266603
Pages: 217
Series: N/A
Type: Adult Mystery
Source: Received for Review
Goodreads


After a whirlwind romance, Liam and Rebecca marry despite knowing barely anything about each other's backgrounds. A few short months after their wedding in the middle of an afternoon shopping trip Rebecca vanishes, seemingly abducted leaving a miriad of questions in her wake. Who would want to abduct Rebecca? Or did she willingly disappear? Was the marriage a sham? Is Liam a dupe?

This is one of those books which sounds really interesting and you can't wait to start reading. A whirlwind romance cut short when the girl suddenly disappears, leaving her heartbroken husband to discover why? It sounded exactly like the kind of book I'd love so I was disappointed when my enjoyment fell short. I really struggled with the author's writing style which has long sentences and chunks of dialogue where I had to keep checking who was who.

The character development was unusual in that it relied mostly on info-dumping their pasts while failing really tell you who the characters were. It was easy to see the facts of their life - the cop who joined the Marshals rather than continue on to law school - but it didn't really show their motivations. This meant I never really felt engaged with the characters and didn't feel connected enough to be more than a little interested in why Rebecca disappeared.

A big flaw in the book is that the romance between Rebecca and Liam, the supposed driving force behind his desperation to find his wife, is covered in a few paragraphs. A short while after her disappearance and he's already calming talking about the possibility he was conned. For a whirlwind romance I'd have expected his emotions to be a lot higher rather than the oddly unemotional way he acts after the first couple of chapters.

I did enjoy the mystery as it was cleverly written and packed with more twists and turns than I thought could fit in a single book. The author has deftly created layer upon layer of plot that undermines the reader's assumptions at every turn. The drug industry angle was well handled, creating a believable manipulative force underpining the central mystery. Unfortunately that was the only part I did enjoy.

All in all this was an okay read but I'm not sure I'd read anything else from this author.

Plot: 6/10
Characters: 4/10
Ending: 5/10
Enjoyment: 4/10
Cover: 5/10

Overall: 24/50

The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Annette Blair

Title: The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Author: Annette Blair

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 0-425-21346-3
Pages: 269
Series: Accidental Witch Trilogy #3
Type: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Rory MacKenzie has been treated as a pariah for his entire life because his ancestor lost the woman he loved and by sending her his greatest piece of work, he cursed the village for all eternity. Victoria Cartwright has inherited the key to a mysterious wardrobe that will only reveal its treasures for the woman with the magic of her ancestors. When Vickie opens the wardrobe and finds a beautifully carved unicorn, she and Rory find themselves thrown together by the choices of their ancestors.

This is the final book in the Accidental Witch Trilogy (after The Kitchen Witch and My Favorite Witch) and this time focuses on Vickie. Although the series began as pure contemporary romances, the magical aspect has steadily grown and this sits very close to being a paranoraml romance. I've wanted to know more about Vickie since she was introduced so it's great to see things from her perspective.

The storyline is well plotted and maintains a steady pace throughout. There are a few twists and turns which keep things interesting, one of which introduces Harmony, Destiny and Storm who are set to star in the Triplet Witch trilogy which follows on from this. The romance between Vickie and Rory is well written. Vickie dislikes Rory from the start and Rory isn't looking for romance so they each resist the feelings developing between them.

Unlike in the previous books, Vickie is very body conscious and this is well dealt with as unlike other romances she doesn't suddenly realise her beauty when a hot guy takes an interest. The other aspect of the book that is particularly well done is the scars both Vickie and Rory carry from their childhoods and gradually begin to heal with the support of each other.

I was really surprised by how much I liked Vickie's antique store. Vintage fashion has been a key element in the books since the beginning so it was really great to read more about it. The magic in the story is also unique as rather than cast spells, Vickie seems to make rhyming wishes that come true in some hilarious ways.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to the first Triplet Witch book Sex and the Psychic Witch.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 46/50